Page 3250 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 17 September 2013
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acknowledged as not being able to meet the costs of achieving the bipartisan five per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that both sides of the federal parliament say they support.
On the one side you have got a policy which is recognised as capable of and starting to reduce emissions at an economically efficient price. On the other side you have a policy that junks that, replaces it with a budget-funded scheme which is now being recognised as not being sufficiently funded to achieve the five per cent reduction in emissions necessary. That is a tragedy for the very pressing and immediate challenge that our country faces in relation to the issue of climate change.
We hear a lot of hysteria from the federal opposition on a whole range of issues but nothing about the fact that in the past 12 months we have seen record temperatures across the Australian continent, the warmest winter on record nationally, the warmest winter on record here in the ACT, the earliest start to spring and warm conditions on record and apparently this is not a national emergency, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members!
MR CORBELL: We hear from their counterparts—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson!
MR CORBELL: about all these so-called budget emergencies and national emergencies. What about the climate emergency, Madam Speaker? What about the fact that our climate is—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition will come to order.
MR CORBELL: warming at a dramatically increasing rate, a rate that outstrips all of the predictions of all the recognised climate scientists and institutions around the world? Those opposite think it is some sort of laughing matter. It is not a laughing matter. It is not a laughing matter. Our climate is changing in dramatic and potentially dangerous ways. The consequences of that are more severe heat episodes, more severe bushfires, more severe droughts and floods. All of those have a direct and immediate consequence on our community. Those opposite should not be thinking that it is some sort of big joke.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members! Before I call Mr Coe for his supplementary question, could I just draw your attention to the fact that you are in question time and not in the playground. When I call you to order, I expect you to come to order. Mr Coe, your supplementary question,
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